Hand tool



Nov. 12, 1929. 5 4 1,735,210

HAND TOOL Filed Dec. 17, 1927 Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES FAYETTE NIMS, OF MONTOUR FALLS, NEW YORK- HAND TOOL Application filed December 17, 1927.

My invention relates to hand tools and relates particularly to hand tools such as hand trowels and the like which have a metallic blade of the spade type formed integrally 5 with a tubular handle for the blade.

In hand tools of this general type, moisture is received within the tubular handle made commonly of steel and which is integrally formed from a single sheet of sheet metal,

with the working blade of the tool, causing rusting of the interior surface of the handle and moreover the condition of moisture is maintained for a considerable period by particles of soil which are received within the handle.

The soil received within the tubular handle through the opening usually provided at the small end of the handle adjacent the blade which is open on the back side of the tool,

1; '20 remains in the tool until at some later time it may subsequently drop out in a tool box or the interior of buildings where it is undesirable to have deposited such particles of soil.

An object of my invention, therefore, relates to a provision in a hand tool of the class described. or a tubular handle therefor, formed integrally with the blade and which will be substantially closed at its ends, and particularly at its end ad acent the blade of the tool.

Another object of my invention is to effect.

the closure of the handle against the ingress of extraneous substances by means formed integrally with the handle and blade in a single piece and without any substantial additional expense of manufacturing the tool.

Other objects of my invention and the in vention itself will become apparent by reference to the following description of an embodi- 0 suitable bending and forming operations.

in Fi 4 Serial No. 240,672.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the I 2 is shown the'tubular handle of truncated conical form from the'line of section H of Fig. 1 toward the butt end which is preferably made of rounded form to close the larger end of the handle. A pair of complementary rounded closure portions 3 formed from the laps 3 of the blank of Fig. 3, have abutting l edges 13 which are continuous with the abutting edges 23, forming the seam 23 of the handle at its rear side. a

At 4 and 14 I show arcuate slits extending inwardly into the blank from the rear edges I 5 and 15, respectively, of the tool blade, whereby the flaps 6 and 16 are provided on opposite .lateralsides of the blank contiguous to the rear edges 5 and 15, respectively, of such a form, that they may be infolded as illustrated e. i, 5 and6 in'overlapping relation as best illustrated at 7, and withtheir arcuate edges 4 and 14 for the flapsti and 16 respectively, disposed contiguously .and preferably in engagement with the rounded concave surface 8 of the formed rear side of the tool at and adjacent the junctions of blade and handle and which surfaces merge into the in terior surface of the'tubular handle.

It will be seen, therefore, that I have pro 'vided a tapered tubular handle 2 closed at both ends by an integral substantial domeshaped closure at the butt end, comprising the formed flaps 3 and at the small end closed by the infold flaps 6 and 16.

In forming the flaps 3' it is necessary to stretch the intermediate portions at least of each of the flaps soas to make each flap substantially into the form of a character of a hollow sphere, and then when the tubular handle 2 is given the proper tapered form 'tion 1 of the blank illustrated in Fig. 3. At

wherein its intermediate portions are of generally the form of a hollow truncated cone, the arcuate edges of the flaps 3 will come together or substantially so so that little or no space is left between the edges to permit extraneous substances to enter the handle from its butt end. This rounded end of the handle is very much to be desired since in operating the tool the palm of the hand may be thrust against this rounded end with a minimum of discomfort to the operator and transmitting the thrust to the blade in a very eificient manner.

The infolded flaps 6 and 16 make a closure of the small end of the handle and in addition reinforce the handle in its smallest, weakest portion, namely, close to the line of section 4-4: of Fig. 1, since the edges 4 and 14 are adapted to and do engage the inner surface of the neck 9 which is smaller and contains less metal and is weaker than any other part of the trowel subjected to lateral stresses.

In finishing the trowel, I preferably paint the handle, at least so that the paint flowing over the contiguous edges 13 of the butt end flaps 3 and the contiguous portions of the flaps 6 and 16 and the edges 4 and 14' contiguous with the rounded surface 8, improving the closure at these points to the ingress of extraneous substances.

adapted to take the thrust of an operators hand in the operation of the tool.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature this 7th day of December, 1927 FAYETTE NIMS.

'Having thus described my invention as a I preferred embodiment, I am aware that numerous. and extensive departures may be made from the embodiment herein illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a hand tool, a blade and handle, said handle being of tapered tubular form with a longitudinal seam on one of its sides, said blade being integrally formed of sheet metal, the blade comprising an integral enlarged extension of the smaller end of the handle, said handle comprising a pair of end flaps formed integrally therewith and inturned against its interior surface adjacent the junction of the handle and the blade, to form a substan I tial closure of the tubular handle atits smaller end.

2. In a hand tool, a blade and handle, said handle being of tapered tubular form with a longitudinal seam on one of its sides, said blade, being integrally formed of sheet metal, the blade comprising an integral enlarged eX- tension of the smaller end of the handle, said handle comprising a pair of end flaps formed integrally therewith and inturned against its interior surface adjacent the junction of the handle and the blade, to form a substantial closure of the tubular handle at its smaller end, said handle at its larger end comprising integral inturned end flaps having the combined form of a rounded dome and 

